More than 40,000 union members working at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis are now on strike since the walkouts began on September 15.
The union has carried out an unusual campaign of simultaneous strikes against the three Detroit automakers, demanding a 40% wage increase, including an immediate 20% hike, improvements in benefits, as well as coverage for workers from the electric car battery plant under union agreements.
UAW President Shawn Fain warned Friday of more strikes at U.S. truck and SUV factories unless the three Detroit manufacturers improve their pay and benefit offers, insisting the companies can afford more than the record packages they have on the table.
The UAW’s move against Sterling Heights is similar to the recent walkout of Ford’s truck assembly plant in Kentucky, its most profitable operation globally.
On October 16, Ford President Bill Ford warned of the growing impact of the strike on the firm and the US economy.
According to the latest data from the economic consulting firm Anderson Economic Group, the total economic losses from the UAW strike amount to $7.7 billion, of which $3.45 billion correspond to the “Detroit Three.”